What you will receive

• 13 Live Interactive Learning Sessions with world recognized Jungian Analysts & Scholars
• 13 Recorded Learning Sessions with world recognized Jungian Analysts & Scholars
• A Learning Resource Guide with links to suggested books, articles, films
• A Private, on-line Discussion Forum
• PGI Graduate Certificate upon successful completion of the course
• 13 CECs* See qualifying criteria for CEs below

Course Description

We live in an era when the abundance of psychologically informed material has never before been so prevalent and accessible, yet this reality exists side by side with the statistically documented profile of a mental health crisis that reaches across national borders and socio-economic divides. In his book, A New Therapy for Politics, (2015), author Andrew Samuels presciently writes: “To be honest, the possible contribution of psychotherapy to society beyond the alleviation of individual distress has not been much welcomed. The world did not show up for its first session.” The questions demand to be asked: Why didn’t the world show up for its first session? Why are we in the throes of a mental health crisis when psychological modalities and interventions have never been more prevalent and accessible?

While many of the concepts developed by Jung, such as introversion, extroversion, complex, personal and collective unconscious, or synchronicity, have entered the psychological vocabulary as well as common parlance, they are often not understood from a psychoanalytic perspective and the psychoanalytic perspective is all too often marginalized as not being relevant to the real world challenges of climate crisis, mental health crisis and social justice concerns.

Pacifica Online is pleased to partner with Jungeaneum/Dr. Stefano Carpani,  to offer this one-of-a-kind graduate certificate course that connects you with world recognized authorities in Analytical Psychology and Neo-Jungian Studies whose individual and collective scholarship continues to shape the contours and influence the trajectory of the theory and practice of Jungian Psychoanalytic work.  Each interactive learning session will focus not only on foundational elements of Analytical Psychology, but on understanding the ways in which Jungian psychology speaks to the current epoch of polycrisis and the evolving understanding of cultural complexes and a pluralistic psyche.

This Course is Ideal for

This course is open to anyone interested in the work of C.G. Jung, the post-Jungians and Analytical Psychology as well as depth psychology who want to have a first contact with this discipline. No previous knowledge or degrees will be required to register. Lay person, Psychologists, Medical Doctors, psychotherapists, other health professionals and nurses, students, teachers and researchers of psychology, sociology and social sciences and the humanities and other professionals of arts are welcome.

By the End of This Course You Will Be Able To

• Understand the foundational theoretical and clinical aspects of Analytical Psychology
• Understand how Analytical Psychology can contribute to greater self-knowledge and personal development
• Understand interpersonal dynamics and conflicts in the light of Analytical Psychology
• Utilize techniques of Analytical Psychology that enable to reveal and express intrapsychic dynamics
• Understand how Analytical Psychology can help to conceptualize and explain cultural and collective phenomena.
• For mental health professionals: conceptualize cases in the light of Analytical Psychology and define intervention strategies

Course Schedule

All Live Sessions will run from 8:00 – 9:30 AM PT/11:00 – 12:30 PM ET/4:00 – 5:30 PM UTC.

Please Note that Murray Stein’s session will run from 7:00 – 8:30 AM PT/10:00 – 11:30 AM ET/3:00 – 4:30 PM UTC

September 14th, 2024
Stefano Carpani

October 12th, 2024
Alan Vaughan

November 16th, 2024 (start at 7 AM PT / 3 PM UTC)
Murray Stein

December 14th, 2024
Verena Kast

January 18th, 2025
John Beebe

February 15th, 2025
Renate Daniel

March 15th, 2025
Marianne Meister

April 12th, 2025
Jan Wiener

May 10th, 2025
Ursula Brasch

May 24th, 2025
Joseph Cambray

June 7th, 2025
Karin Fleisher

June 21st, 2025
Ruth Williams

July 12th, 2025
Caterina Vezzoli

Course Overview

September 14, 2024 – Jung, Freud, and the Need for Analytical Psychology in the 21st Century – Stefano Carpani

The dynamic between Jung and Freud commenced with their initial correspondence and underwent a process of evolution and refinement, spanning their brief yet fervent collaboration and persisting even after its dissolution. This relationship laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements in both analytical psychology and psychoanalysis.

As this graduate certificate aims to study and understand the complexities of the 21st century, focusing on the insights of Jung and Freud (and their relationship) is key. This lecture explores the enduring relevance of analytical psychology in our modern era. By delving into the foundational principles of Jungian (and Freudian) theories, we uncover how their perspectives offer profound insights into the intricacies of the human mind, interpersonal relationships, and societal dynamics. We will examine why analytical psychology remains indispensable for understanding and addressing the psychological challenges of our time.

Exploring the enduring legacy of Jung and Freud and their invaluable contributions to psychological inquiry in the 21st century, the lecture will delve into the significance of Jung’s initial fascination with Freud’s theories, their divergent interpretations of libido (frequently considered pivotal in their eventual parting), the exploration of symbols and signs, Freud’s focus on the Logos, and Jung’s preoccupation with the Imago, and much more.

Suggested Reading:

Required:

• Frey-Rohn, L. (2001). From Freud to Jung: A Comparative Study of the Psychology of the Unconscious. Shambhala
• Kaufmann, W., (2017), Freud, Alder, and Jung: Discovering the Mind. Routledge

Recommended:

• Hogenson, G. (1994). Jung’s struggle with Freud (Revised Edition ed.). Chiron Publications.
• Vandermeersch, P. (1991). Unresolved Questions in the Freud/Jung Debate: On Psychosis, Sexual Identity, and Religion (A.-M. Marivoet, Trans. (4)). Leuven University Press Leuven.
• Vandermeersch may be freely downloaded from his website: https://www.patrickvandermeersch.org/freud-and-jung/
• Shamdasani, S. (2003). Jung and the Making of Modern Psychology: The Dream of a Science. Cambridge University Press.

 

October 12th, 2024 – Introduction to Analytical Psychology – Alan Vaughan

This course offers an overview of the prolific life and times of C.G. Jung (1875-196) in cultural context, through the agency of autobiography and critical biography. Participants are introduced to the Collected Works of C. G. Jung by subject matter. The course provides an introduction, to the core concepts and constructs in Analytical psychology that include theories of personality, psychoanalysis, and depth psychotherapy. Topics include: models of consciousness, structure and dynamics of psyche, dream theory, the nature of mythology, the stages of psychoanalysis and the nature of transference and countertransference. In addition, the scholarship of post-Jungian analysts and scholars that both extend and critique Analytical psychology are referenced and discussed. Some of these areas include: neuroscience, attachment theory, synchronicity, active imagination, spirituality and cultural complex theories.

The course is offered to those interested in the life and work of C.G. Jung. It provides a strong theoretical foundation that supports and facilitates cohesive assimilation of his theories and the Trans-disciplinary and Transcultural nature of his work. The course serves as a bridge to the in-depth study of the Collected Works of C.G. Jung, the recently published Red Book and the Black Books. The Red Book provides foreground and background for Jung’s original ideas born from the period of his creative engagement and self- analysis of his unconscious. The Black Books are published notes that foreground the Red Book. The Red Book and The Black Books are not covered in this seminar. This course can serve as a portal to research, theory application and professional practice.

Course Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge of the narrative in the autobiography and/or biography of C.G. Jung, his life and work.
2. Knowledge of core concepts and constructs in Analytical psychology: theories of personality, psychoanalysis, and depth psychotherapy.
3. Knowledge of Jung’s theory on dreams

Suggested Reading:

• Cambray, J., & Carter, L. (Eds.). (2004). Analytical psychology. New York, NY: Brunner-Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
• Edinger, E. (1994). Eternal drama, inner meaning of Greek mythology. Boston, MA: Shambhala.
• Jacobi, J. (1973). The psychology of C.G. Jung. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
• Jung, C. G. (1963). Memories dreams and reflections. New York, NY: Pantheon Books.
• Jung, C. G. (1974). Dreams. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Additional Readings:

• Vaughan, A. (2013). Jung, analytical psychology and transpersonal psychology. Harris Friedman and Glenn Hartelius (Eds), Handbook of transpersonal psychology, pp.141-155. West Susssex, UK:Wiley Blackwell.
• Vaughan, A. (2016). Jungian dreamwork. Jacquie Lewis and Stanley Krippner (Eds.), Working with dreams and PTSD nightmares,14 approaches for psychotherapists and counselors pp.1-23. Santa Barbra, California and Denver, Colorado: Praeger.
• Vaughan, A. (2018) A Conversation between Like-Minded Colleagues and Friends: Alan Vaughan and Andrew Samuels, Jung Journal, 12:2, 118-137, DOI:10.1080/19342039.2018.1442108To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/19342039.2018.1442108
• Vaughan, A. (2019). ‘African American Jungian Analysts on Culture, Clinical Training/Practice and Racism’. Journal of Analytical Psychology, 2019, 64, 3, 320–348

 

November 16th, 2024 – What Analytical Psychology May Contribute to the World Today and Tomorrow – Murray Stein

*Please note this session will run from 7:00 – 8:30 AM PT/10:00 – 11:30 AM ET

In this lecture, I will discuss what C.G. Jung and analytical psychology have meant to me personally. In this, I will speak of “my Jung” and how 50 years of engagement with his life and work have affected my destiny. I will then go on to speak of Jung’s legacy, of what his theory and the practice of analytical psychology offer our and future generations. In all of this, I will make references to Jung’s life, his writings and other works as a guide for the psychological and spiritual development of individuals and collectives. In summary, I will speak of what analytical psychology stands for the world today and the vision and methods for development that it offers to individuals and communities.

Suggested Reading:

• C.G. Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections

 

December 14th, 2024 – On Active Imagination – Verena Kast

Verena Kast’s lecture on Active Imagination explores a fundamental concept in Jungian psychology, elucidating its significance and practical applications. Active Imagination, as conceptualized by Carl Jung, is a technique to access the unconscious through creative engagement with images and symbols. Kast delves into the transformative potential of this method, illustrating how it fosters self-discovery, psychological integration, and spiritual growth. By engaging in a dialogue with the unconscious, individuals can unearth hidden aspects of their psyche, confront unresolved conflicts, and cultivate a deeper connection with the archetypal realm. Kast’s lecture navigates the theoretical underpinnings of Active Imagination while offering practical guidance on its implementation in therapeutic settings and personal development. Through case studies and experiential exercises, attendees gain insight into harnessing the power of imagination for healing and individuation.

Suggested Reading:

• Chodorow Joan (ed. and introducing) (1997) Jung on Active Imagination. London: Taylor and Francis.
• Kast Verena (1997). Imagination as Space of Freedom: The Dialogue between the Ego and the Unconscious. New York: Fromm International.
• Kast Verena (2014). Complexes and imagination. Journal of Analytical Psychology, 59, 5, 680-694.
• Kast Verena (2023). On Being Imaginative. In: Gudaite G, Kelly T (2023) Exploring Core Competencies in Jungian Psychoanalysis. (87-100. London: Routledge.
• Schaverien Joy (1992) The Revealing Image. Analytical Art Psychotherapy in Theory and Practice. London: Routledge.

 

January 18th,^, 2025 – Jung & Typology: A Self-Organizing Complexity, Driven by Archetypes to Create Consciousness – John Beebe

G. Jung’s theory of psychological types is a model of the distribution and organization of consciousness in the individuating person. John Beebe has pioneered the understanding of typology as Jung’s “little-s” self-psychology. He has been able to demonstrate both its deeper roots in archetypes that hold extraordinary adaptive and defensive potential and its broadening capacity to organize cultural attitudes that can inform a range of social adaptations. In this lecture, Dr. Beebe will freshly examine each of the eight basic “types” of conscious orientation Jung named, tracing the story arc of each as it develops from rigid complex to a more capacious complexity. He will add his unique understanding of how the types of consciousness are expressed according to the archetypal roles they are associated with in the individual’s personality. Beebe will use film examples to show the interactions between introverted and extraverted types of consciousness within the self. He will also discuss the implication of these relations between internal subjects for object relations with other people. This presentation will offer a chance to experience how typological complexes express themselves best in interactions that, when learned from, create a person capable of adapting in individual ways to both inner and outer realities.

Suggested Reading:

• Beebe, John (2017). Energies and Patterns in Psychological Type: The Reservoir of Consciousness.
• Beebe, John (ed.) (2021). Journal of Analytical Psychology: Special Issue: Psychological Types. 66, No. 5. Wiley.
• Haas, Leona & Hunziker, Mark. (2006). Building Blocks of Personality Type: A Guide to Using the Eight-Process Model of Personality Type: Jung’s Mental Processes.
• Hunziker, Mark (2016). Depth Typology: C. G. Jung, Isabel Myers, John Beebe and the Guide Map to Becoming Who We Are. Write Way Publishing.
• Jung, C. G. Psychological Types (1976). (Collected Works, Vol. 6), Foreword to Argentine Edition (pp. xiv-xv, 1934); General Description of the Types (pp. 330-407, 1921), and “Psychological Typology” (pp. 542-555, 1936). Princeton University Press.
• von Franz, Marie-Louise (1971). “The Inferior Function” in von Franz & Hillman, Lectures on Jung’s Typology.

 

February 15th, 2025 – The Relevance of Fairytales to the Contemporary Socio-Cultural Challenges of the 21^st Century – Renate Daniel

Fairy tales describe archetypal patterns and thus collective unconscious processes that operate behind zeitgeist phenomena. They deepen our understanding of contemporary social phenomena.

Basically, every fairy tale contains an essential psychological message about fundamental human conflicts that have existed in all epochs and cultures, and which are relevant to us today and will remain so in the future. Because of this timelessness and internationality, fairy tales are a valuable resource when we are perplexed, overwhelmed, or at something of a loss. In such situations, fairy tales show us what it needs to overcome a difficult situation, but also what it takes to fail and why.

Actually, a fairy tale itself is its own best explanation. But the most astonishing and important messages are often no longer understood, because its symbols and language seem outdated, the fairy tale contents appear mostly childish or unrealistic, in other words, not believable. The human mind is quite skeptical about the value of fairy tales.

Therefore, a deep psychological interpretation is needed: it “translates” the fairy tale for today and tries to work out archetypal key statements – the “red thread”. A successful interpretation causes a feeling of coherence and the experience of resonance and enables to understand phenomena in a more holistic way. In this seminar we use fairy tales and myths to reflect on current issues of power structures, needs for control and security, longing for relationships along with fear of relating.

Suggested Reading:

• Birkhäuser-Oeri, S. (1988). The Mother: Archetypal Image in Fairy Tales. Toronto: Inner City.
• Dieckmann, H. (1986). Twice-Told Tales: The Psychological Use of Fairy Tales. Wilmette: Chiron.
• Franz, M.L. v. (1996), The Interpretation of Fairy Tales. (Revised ed.) Boston and London: Shambhala
• Franz, M.-L.v. (1972). Problems of the Feminine in Fairy Tales. New York: Spring.
• Franz, M.-L.v. (1974). Shadow and Evil in Fairy Tales. Zürich: Spring,
• Franz, M.-L.v. (1997) Archetypal Patterns in Fairy tales,
• Kast, V. (1995): Folktales as Therapy. Fromm, New York.

 

March 15th, 2025 – Sand-Play – Marianne Meister

Marianne Meister’s presentation on Sand-Play delves into the profound therapeutic modality developed by Dora Kalff based on Jungian principles. Sand-Play provides a nonverbal, symbolic means for individuals, particularly children, to explore their inner worlds and address psychological challenges. Meister elucidates the intricate process of creating and interacting with miniature worlds in the sandbox, highlighting its efficacy in facilitating emotional expression, trauma resolution, and personal growth. Through case examples and theoretical insights, she demonstrates Sand-Play’s ability to access the unconscious, activate imagination, and promote healing. Meister’s abstract emphasizes the transformative potential of Sand-Play as a therapeutic tool for clinicians and counselors, offering a glimpse into its profound impact on individuals’ psyches and lives.

Suggested Reading:

• Kalff, Martin: Twenty-one Points to be considered in the Interpretation of Sandplay (revised version 07) Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume XVI, Number 1, 2007
• Mitchell, Rie Rogers & Friedman, Harriet: Sandplay: Past, Present and Future. Routledge. London & New York 1994 (Deutsche Ausgabe im Reinhard Verlag erschienen).
• Ryce-Menuhin Joel: Jungian Sandplay, the Wonderful Therapy. Routledge. London & New York 1992.
• Zoja Eva Pattis:Hg, Sandsplay Therapy, Treatment of Psychopathologies Daimon Verlag 2004
• Journal of Sandplay Therapy: Sandplay Therapists of Amerika, Journal of Sandplay Therapy, P.O. Box 4847. Walnut Creek, CA 94596, USA, sta@sandplay.org

 

April 12th, 2025 – Transference and Countertransference: The Making of Meaning– Jan Wiener

Jan Wiener’s exploration of Transference and Countertransference illuminates their pivotal roles in the therapeutic process. Drawing from psychoanalytic theory and his extensive clinical experience, Wiener elucidates how unconscious feelings and dynamics between therapist and client shape the therapeutic relationship. Through vivid examples and theoretical insights, he examines how transference phenomena reflect past experiences and relational patterns, offering opportunities for insight and healing. Furthermore, Wiener delves into the concept of countertransference, emphasizing its inevitability and potential as a tool for understanding and empathy. His abstract underscores the intricate interplay between therapist and client, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and reflexivity in navigating therapeutic encounters. Wiener’s work serves as a valuable resource for clinicians seeking to deepen their understanding of the therapeutic process and enhance their effectiveness in facilitating meaningful change.

Suggested Reading:

• Wiener, J., (2009). The Therapeutic Relationship: Transference, Countertransference, and the Making of Meaning

 

May 10th, 2025 – The I Ching: The Book of Changes and Contemporary Analytical Psychology – Ursula Brasch

Is there an archetype of order? And what if, social, mental and psychological processes, which seem so chaotic and unmanageable to us, were based on an order that can be found? The I Ching, as an ancient Chinese wisdom book, can be used to deal with important life questions. It shows how all things in the universe are connected in various patterns of relationship and resonance. When used as a tool in therapy, the perspective of the I Ching, or “Book of Changes,” can help to unearth hidden aspects of a complex psychological situation. The more facets of the unconscious one can uncover, the more instruction one has in approaching and establishing a relationship with “the other” operating in the unknowable areas of the psyche. But what informs the alien, ancient perspective of the I Ching, and what kind of meaning is it trying to convey? In the lecture, we will explore analytical psychology’s understanding of the concepts of kairos, synchronicity, and complementary opposites, along with Jung’s own contact with ancient Chinese philosophy. Through these lenses, we will consider the I Ching’s relevance today.

Suggested Reading:

• Wilhelm/Baynes (1997). The I Ching. Bollingen: Princeton Uniiversity Press
• Balkin, Jack.( 2009). The laws of Change. Branford: Sybil Creek Press
• Smith, Richard J.(2008). Fathoming the Cosmos and ordering the World. University of Virginia Press
• Cleary,Thomas.(1986) The Taoist I Ching. Boulder: Shambalah Publications

 

May 24th, 2025 – Jung & Synchronicity, The Re-Enchantment of the World – Joseph Cambray

In a time of great personal and collective crisis, Jung undertook his inward journey into the unconscious. The experiences he had during this time formed the living basis for his theories and methods we continue to celebrate, employ and modify to the present day. In this masterclass we will look at primary data from his “confrontation with the unconscious” as shown in his Red Book. Key signature concepts such as Individuation and Synchronicity will be shown to have emerged in this context. We will follow the evolution of these ideas through this period and beyond into his therapeutic work of a personal and collective nature as well as exploring the methods he developed during this time. This will include his final iteration of his archetypal hypothesis, to include the psychoid aspects of the soul. Then we will look at some valuable contemporary modifications based on the best information currently available from complexity studies. The loss of soul in our rationalistic, disenchanted modern societies will be seen to be remediated in part by Jung lifelong efforts, what in contemporary understanding will be referred to as a “re-enchantment of the world.” Practical examples will be offered from the presenter’s work, as well as some exercises to enhance experiential learning.

Based on the prerecorded lecture and the readings, in the live, interactive webinar we will begin with some guided imagery explorations connected with the themes which have been presented. This will allow us to deepen the engagement in the live webinar, so that more thorough experiential knowledge of the relations between theory and practice can be realized.

Suggested Reading:

• Cambray, Joe. “21st Century Unconscious: Altered states, oracles, and intelligences.” In, Depth Psychology and Climate Change: The Green Book, Dale Mathers, ed. New York & London: Routledge (2020).
• Main, Roderick. Breaking the Spell of Disenchantment: Mystery, Meaning, and Metaphysics in the Work of C. G. Jung. Asheville, NC: Chiron Publications, (2022).
• Cambray, Joe.  “Reconsidering Individuation in the 21st Century: When Archetypal Patterns Shift.” In Our World of Uncertainty: Possibilities and Challenges Through a Jungian Perspective, ed. L. Sawin and J. Cambray, Asheville, NC: Chiron Publications, (2023-in press).
• Cambray, Joseph.  Synchronicity:  Nature & Psyche in an Interconnected Universe(Fay Lecture Series).  College Station, TX:  Texas A & M University Press, (2009).
• Simard, Suzanne.  Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest.  New York: Vintage Books (2021).

 

June 7th, 2025 – An Embodiment Perspective in Analytical Psychology – Karin Fleischer

Within the Cartesian framework of his time, Jung introduced the hypothesis of a psyche-matter correspondence as early as 1917. With this theoretical formulation, he has anticipated for almost hundred years, studies and clinical developments that have been taken place in the field of psychology in recent decades. In this masterclass we will first examine the different moments in Jung’s theory linked to this hypothesis, highlighting some key notions which may serve as a foundation to explore the significance of an embodiment perspective in Jungian clinical work. Then, we will look at a review of these premises through the lens of contemporary research in early development and affective neuroscience. Drawing from these theoretical insights, and through clinical material we will consider:

1. How bodily sensations, symptoms and gestures convey unconscious emotions, memories, and psychological patterns encoded as implicit memories.
2. How attending to the body’s messages, in our clinical work, can facilitate access to a psychoid unconscious realm allowing the unrepresented psychological contents to gradually find their way into a symbolic narrative.
3. How when patients and analysts learn to listen to their somatic experiences during the session, this may contribute to expand and deepen the analytic process.

In the live, interactive webinar, we will continue to explore through dialogue and experiences the themes proposed on the prerecorded lecture and the readings, to facilitate the integration between theory and practice.

Suggested Reading:

• Chodorow, J. (1991). Dance Therapy and Depth Psychology. The Moving Imagination. London and New York; Routledge.
• Dunlea, M. (2019) Bodydreaming in the Treatment of Developmental Trauma. An Embodied Therapeutic Approach. London & New York, Routledge
• Jung, C. G. (1904-1907, 1910) Studies in Word Association, Collected Works, vol. 2, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
• Jung, C.G. (1917) On the Psychology of the Unconscious, Collected Works 7, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
• Jung, C. G. (1947) On the Nature of the Psyche, Collected Works, vol. 8. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
• Lyons-Ruth, K., Bruschweiler-Stern, N., Harrison, A.M., Morghan, A.C., Nahum, J.P., Sander, L., Stern, D.N., Tronick, E.Z. (1998). ‘Implicit relational knowing: its role in development and psychoanalytic treatment.’ Infant Mental Health Journal, 19, 3, 282-89. Reprinted in: Change in Psychotherapy – A Unifying Paradigm; The Boston Change Process Study Group. New York & London: W.W. Norton & Company.

Additional Reading:

• Fleischer, K. (2020). ‘The symbol in the body: The un-doing of a dissociation through embodied active imagination in Jungian analysis.’ Journal of Analytical Psychology, 65(3), 558–583.
• Fleischer, K. (2023) “Collective Trauma, Implicit Memories, the Body, and Active Imagination in Jungian Analysis” Journal of Analytical Psychology, 2023, 68, 2, 1–21
• Greene, A.U (2005) “Listening to the body for the sake of the soul”. Spring, Body & Soul, Honoring Marion Woodman, 72, 189-204.
• Martini, S. (2016) “Embodying analysis: the body and the therapeutic process”. Journal of Analytical Psychology, 61:1, 5-23
• Schellinski, K. (2009) “When psyche mutters through matter. Reflections on somatic countertransference” Spring Journal.
• Zoppi, L. (2017). ‘Chilled to the bone: embodied countertransference and unspoken traumatic memories.’ Journal of Analytical Psychology, 62, 5, 701-09.

 

June 21st, 2025 – Exploring Spirituality from a Post-Jungian Perspective – Ruth Williams

This lecture offers a profound inquiry into the intersection of Jungian psychology and spirituality. Williams delves into Jung’s insights, providing clinical and personal reflections that illuminate the transformative potential of spiritual experiences within the context of therapy and personal growth. Through the lens of post-Jungian thought, she explores themes of individuation, archetypal imagery, and the integration of spirituality into psychological healing. Williams navigates complex topics such as religious symbolism, mystical experiences, and the search for meaning, offering practical guidance for therapists and individuals alike. Her book serves as a bridge between psychology and spirituality, inviting readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual exploration informed by Jung’s enduring legacy.

Suggested Reading:

• Jung, C.G. (1937) The Terry Lectures: “Psychology and Religion” in CW11.  (pp.5-105)
• Stein, M. (2024) “The Dream of Wholeness” in Psychology and Spirituality.  Asheville, North Carolina: Chiron Publications.
• Tacey, D. (2013) The Darkening Spirit: Jung, Spirituality, Religion.  London and New York: Routledge.  (pp. 1-39 and pp. 91-106 and pp. 146).
• Walach, H.(2019) Galileo Commission Report: Beyond a Materialist Worldview.  London: Scientific and Medical Network.  (pp. 77-81).
• Williams, R. (2023) “Introduction’ and Chapter 1 of Exploring Spirituality from a Post-Jungian Perspective: Clinical and Personal Reflections.  New York and London: Routledge.

Recommended Viewing:

• This is a 1984 BBC documentary: “Jung – Sea of Faith” (17 mins) which give a sense of how Jung lived out his spiritual existence and his relationship to religion
• The following are two clips about consciousness:
  • This is a 12.52 min clip of George Harrison on consciousness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP9Qz3HdM3I
  • David Lynch on Consciousness, Creativity and the Brain (8.42 mins): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2UHLMVr4vg

Recommended Reading:

• Baring, A. (2013) The Dream of the Cosmos: A Quest for the Soul.  Dorset: Archive Publishing.
• Bernstein, J. (2005) Living in the Borderland: The Evolution of Consciousness and the Challenge of Healing Trauma.  London and New York: Routledge.
• Dourley, J. (2014) Jung and His Mystics: In the end it all comes to nothing.  London and New York: Routledge.
• James, W. (1982) The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature.  London and New York: Penguin Classics.
• Tacey, D. (2009) The Edge of the Sacred.   Einsiedeln: Daimon Verlag.
• Tarnas, R. (2006) Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View.   London and New York: Viking.

 

July 12th, 2025 – Beyond The Oedipus Complex– Caterina Vezzoli

Caterina Vezzoli’s exploration of “Beyond the Oedipus Complex: A Post-Jungian Interpretation” delves into the complexities of early psychosexual development and familial dynamics from a Jungian perspective. Departing from Freudian theory, Vezzoli reexamines the Oedipus complex through the lens of Jungian psychology, emphasizing archetypal patterns and the individuation process. Through clinical case studies and theoretical analysis, she elucidates how unconscious conflicts and familial dynamics shape individuals’ psychological development beyond traditional Freudian frameworks. Vezzoli navigates the intricate interplay of personal and collective unconscious forces, highlighting the role of archetypal imagery and cultural influences in shaping human experience. Her exploration offers a fresh perspective on psychosexual development, inviting readers to reconsider traditional paradigms and embrace a more nuanced understanding of human psychology rooted in Jungian theory.

Suggested Reading:

• Butler., J., (2000) – Antigone’s Claim. Kinship between Life and Death. Columbia University Press.
• Sophocles – Oedipus at Colonos.
• Sophocles – Antigone
• Deleuze and Guattari (1983) – Capitalism and Schizofrenia.
• Derrida, J., (1997) – Politica and Friendship.
• Ciceaux. H., (1976) – the Laugh of the Medusa. Translated by  K. Cohen and P. Cohen. Signs 1-4
• Covington, C., (2003) – Incest in Jung’s work: the origin of the epistomophilic instinct, JAP, 48, 2, p.255/262.
• Zajko, V., Leonard, M.,(2008) – Laughing with Medusa . Oxford University Press.